The present world offers endless possibilities. People are encouraged to think bigger and to acquire more, but more for themselves than the collective. Even though we now have more access to the world around us and can connect with people across the world, we have become more individualistic.

Society is a contract that we are born into. This has been used to keep people in line and I think that the idea that we belong to something larger than ourselves has made us resentful. It is hard to be an individual when you’re part of a machine, but what is individuality anyways?

It is defined as:

1. the quality or character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others of the same kind, especially when strongly marked.
2. separate existence.

I think what we have failed to see is our individuality is where we find how we contribute to the larger collective. There is a deep misalignment between what we have been sold and what is reality. Our contract was broken. I believe this has opened doors for people to find unconventional ways of making money, to break past these barriers and put ourselves on top.

The thing is, our earth is sick.

Whether it is acknowledged by some or not, global warming is taking a toll. We are seeing larger storms, pandemics, water resources have been affected, in certain areas it’s almost becoming to hot to exist without air conditioning. Even though we didn’t agree to this, even though we were lied to, this is the reality of the world we live in. By choosing to live in a “separate existence” and focus on our own well being we are accelerating what is hurting us.

This isn’t to say it’s our fault. There are powers larger and more influential than us that have been the primary contributors to what we see happening. But, we have to care.

Individuality and money will mean nothing if we cannot take care of each other. If we don’t pay attention to other people’s pain, if we accept these dismal conditions as good enough, we are only hurting the people we love.

I don’t exactly know the answer, but I do know that small actions in your community, paying attention to the news, speaking out amongst your peers and your officials is better than doing nothing. I don’t want to go down without a fight. I want better for the future and the world our children are going to grow into. We cannot save the world all at once, but if we all focus on the good of the people in our reach, hopefully there will be a patchwork quilt made of our individual contributions.

Life was once about finding your place in the immediate collective and becoming part of a living and breathing body. Everything is connected, everything is one, and we must remember.

Everything has a place in the natural world. Bugs, animals, storms, and even fires keep the earth functioning in a natural cycle of life. There is no individuality in nature. Life is not easy, but it is beautiful. The ability to taste, touch, see, and feel is a blessing in itself. Excess throws off the balance; there must be a give and take in order to keep these blessings. When we take and take, we leave less for others.

I believe regardless of where we end up, things will continue without us in an endless cycle of regeneration. Whether we learn and adapt or not, the earth will continue on and eventually leave us behind.